Disappointed With XIV Direction

[Rein_eon_Osborne]

They were eagerly working toward the goal of gaining new players, but are slowly losing the veterans who built the very foundation of the game. Sad.

Anecdotally speaking, I don’t think they could keep some new players around for long either.

I tried to invite my 6-7 group of IRL friends to play together after months of contemplating only to regret it right after because it was exactly as I worried: they found the gameplay too braindead boring & said “If the game can’t keep me occupied for their first few chapters/episodes, I think they’re lost. First impression is important. Spending first 60 levels out of 90 total levels with barebone kits is just plain garbage tier of a progression” to me in VC.

:shrug: I tried.

EDIT: Of course, months later free trial was expanded up to StB, but at that point it's already too late. The damage was done. To their eyes, FF14 is visual novel with boring gameplay so barebone some mobile games' gameplay wouldn't let them snooze or they'd get punished, thus keeping them engaged. Mind you that they also tried a lot of the contents within their own volitions. PotD, Ocean Fishing, synced EX Mount farming, synced Coils, doesn't skip CS, have most jobs leveled, and so on (as far as FT allows them to, I mostly just help them to stay partied & assist when they want it). And they still find it boring. So this isn't just some "ThEy'Re NoT mSq PlAyEr/ThEy HaVeN't PlAyEd MuCh YeT!!!"-cases.